Earlier this week, a federal court heard arguments in ABC’s lawsuit against the FCC, one of the most consequential press freedom cases in years. ABC is suing the FCC over the agency’s unprecedented early review of its broadcast licenses in retaliation for the network’s coverage of the Trump administration.
In a special event, The Jim Acosta Show and If You Can Keep It brought together award-winning journalist Jim Acosta, former senior FCC official Gigi Sohn, and Protect Democracy Special Counsel Rachel Goodman for a live conversation about ABC’s fight against the FCC, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr’s ongoing effort to weaponize the FCC as a tool for censorship, the threats to an independent press, and what it means for the 2026 midterm elections.
Jim knows the pressure on newsrooms firsthand as a journalist who was barred from the White House in 2018 and left CNN to report independently in 2025. Gigi has the insider view of the FCC, and Rachel is on the front lines of the legal fight. We’re really looking forward to a conversation bringing these pieces together. Gigi and Rachel are also representing a bipartisan group of 18 former high-ranking FCC officials who have filed a brief supporting ABC in the litigation. When officials from both parties are sounding the alarm ahead of a major election, it’s worth listening.
The FCC’s actions against ABC are part of FCC Chairman Carr’s campaign to pressure, threaten, and attempt to discredit journalists for coverage the Trump administration dislikes. This is about more than one broadcaster’s license — it’s about controlling voters: what you see, what you trust, and whether you accept election outcomes as legitimate.
Featuring:
Jim Acosta, award-winning journalist and host of The Jim Acosta Show
Gigi Sohn, former senior FCC official and co-founder of Public Knowledge
Rachel Goodman, Protect Democracy Special Counsel
